And it's a lovely bit of synchronicity both that "Anne" takes place in LA, and that Buffy in "Anne" was the most like the pre-Buffy Angel AtS eventually developed: hurt, withdrawn, self-hating, brooding -- and drawn out by the necessity for heroism, despite herself.

Aren't many of the shots in the opening credits from Anne?

It's possible Lorne did know without Angel having to tell him that he would kill Lindsay.

Smallville quoted from the Godfather far more closely, so maybe that's why I don't see it so much. Someone mentioned something above that actually put me in mind of Down By Law-- the film about a prison break that shows almost literally everything but the prison break. The actual fight itself, not as important anymore.

CNN shouldn't make me sniffly- but I open it up and see this headline: Study: Good death as important as long life .

Micole, loved the Anne/Buffy thoughts. Now I'm all choky again.

Someone mentioned something above that actually put me in mind of Down By Law-- the film about a prison break that shows almost literally everything but the prison break. The actual fight itself, not as important anymore.

Interesting. I know I mentioned that I loved how the "big battle" basically got to be an afterthought, but I never groked on DOWN BY LAW (which is up there with DEAD MAN as my favorite Jarmousch movie). I know that the BUTCH CASSIDY comparison doesn't work for me for this ending - no "freeze frame into legend" moment, for one. Also, I'm glad they didn't do the obvious opposite and go all WILD BUNCH, because I wanted the end to still be suspeneded. Unknown. The outcome is likely to be them all dead (although, Angel's probably still juiced up from Hamilton, and though Hamilton gave her a smackdown, Illyria was still strong enough to do what she did to the car bad guys AND still have more than an enough ooomph to pulverize super mage's head), but I like that "We. Don't. Know." Which is why THELMA AND LOUISE doesn't work either.

Writing that out made me think of one of my favorite moments from last night - the baddies in the car turn on the lights, and there's that wonderful shot of Illyria cocking her head with mild curiosity and a whole lot of "you are SO dead".

I'm torn- I won't delete it from the tivo until I've seen it again, I don't want to see it again anytime soon, I don't want to delete the last ME show ever (or at least for a while).

I loved it, Mr. H was a bit ticked that he didn't get to see the final big fighty fight, but ah well.

I loved it, Mr. H was a bit ticked that he didn't get to see the final big fighty fight, but ah well.

Tell him the one in his head is probably better than anything ME could have come up with. Their track record on big monster fights is....sketchy, to be kind.

Yes, Smallville's ending last night was very Godfatherish.

Gah! Want to watch Angel finale again now.

Angel's probably still juiced up from Hamilton, and though Hamilton gave her a smackdown, Illyria was still strong enough to do what she did to the car bad guys AND still have more than an enough ooomph to pulverize super mage's head

Yes, this occurred to me in my unappreciative brain.

And kudos to whomever said "Someone has to tell the story." Which is one reason it's good Lorne survives, but there should have been a witness to the end.

Actually, he was most impressed with Lindsey's sword fighting.

A few notes:

To paraphrase Dusk 'Til Dawn: Those acts of Joss really stick it in and break it off, don't they?

I loved how they only showed the important parts of the fights: Gunn whipping out the spike-bands, and axing the Senator (was that the hubcap axe he made so long ago, btw?). Spike grabbing the baby and making his move. Illyria showing up - no need to see her kill them, cuz, well, she's freaking tough. And Wes getting beat. Oh, god, Wes getting beat. Angel taking on Hamilton with Connor.

Lorne was told to kill Lindsey, and he didn't like it, because it's not in his nature to kill, much less in cold blood. That's why he left Pylea, isn't it? In fact, I don't think I've ever seen him take part in a fight, unless it's been to sing or get cold-cocked. I could be wrong, but it wasn't one of his defining characteristics.

"I kind of want to slay the dragon." Of course Angel takes the good job for himself.

William the bloody was beautiful. He read it so well, so much better than he did back when he wrote it. You could just tell that that was what he always wanted, to have people appreciate his poetry, and that got lost when he got vamped.